Title 42 › Chapter CHAPTER 7— - SOCIAL SECURITY › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER XVIII— - HEALTH INSURANCE FOR AGED AND DISABLED › Part Part B— - Supplementary Medical Insurance Benefits for Aged and Disabled › § 1395o
People who can join the medical insurance program are those already getting hospital insurance under Part A, and people who are 65 or older, live in the United States, and are either U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents who have lived in the U.S. without break for the 5 years before they apply. If someone loses Part A because of the rule in section 426–1(b)(2) (whether that loss happened before, on, or after January 1, 2023), they can enroll or be treated as enrolled only to get coverage for immunosuppressive drugs. They cannot get that drug coverage while they have other coverage, such as employer or individual health plans, TRICARE for Life, Medicaid (or a Medicaid waiver) that covers those drugs, CHIP that covers those drugs, or Veterans Affairs enrollment or VA benefits that cover those drugs (except under section 1710). The Secretary, working with the Social Security Commissioner, will make a process to check eligibility. That process will require the person to say in writing that they are not enrolled and do not expect to enroll in other coverage, and to tell the Commissioner within 60 days if they do enroll in such coverage.
Full Legal Text
The Public Health and Welfare — Source: USLM XML via OLRC
Legislative History
Reference
Citation
42 U.S.C. § 1395o
Title 42 — The Public Health and Welfare
Last Updated
Apr 6, 2026
Release point: 119-73